Supreme Golden Palace

Chapter 56: Employment (Part )

"Disciple,
I, having received the Mandate of Heaven, founded the Imperial Sui Dynasty, carrying on the legacy of generations past, and ensuring the well-being of the people. Since ascending the throne, I have risen day and night, determined to pacify the four seas and bring peace to the world. However, the Turks have repeatedly invaded our borders, harassing our people. Their evil is unbearable.

I have now resolved to raise an army and march north to pacify the frontiers and enhance the prestige of our nation. Lü Shang, courtesy name Feixiong, a native of Jinan, Qi County, is a man of unwavering resolve and exceptional military skill. He won first place in the imperial examination, and I greatly admire his heroic spirit.

I have specially appointed Lü Shang as the vanguard of the central route of the Northern Expedition, leading 3,000 elite soldiers as the vanguard. I have placed high hopes on you in this vanguard position. You must know that this is a heavy responsibility and must not fail. I hope you will uphold my will and swiftly eliminate the Turkic people, restoring peace to our borders and ensuring the well-being of our people.

Go to Qinzai!"

Before the incense table, the Imperial Eunuch held the imperial edict in his hands. Lü Yongji and his son, Lü Shang, donned court robes and knelt to listen. After the edict was read, Lü Shang took it and kowtowed with his father, Lü Yongji, to thank the emperor for his grace.

After sending the Imperial Household Supervisor away, Lu Shang unfolded the imperial edict again, gently stroking the paper with his fingers, and whispered, "The vanguard of the Northern Central Route, a fifth-rank official."

During this northern campaign, Yang Jian, with his trusted prince Yang Lin as commander-in-chief, raised an army of 150,000, determined to end the Turkic threat in one fell swoop. Lü Shang, along with Wei Cheng, Xin Yongfeng, and Shang Silang, who finished in the top three in the military examination, were all given important positions.

Lü Shang was the vanguard of the central route of the Northern Expedition, Wei Cheng was the vanguard of the left route, Shang Silang was the vanguard of the right route, and Xin Yongfeng was the grain supervisor. For Xin Yongfeng, the position of grain supervisor was indeed an important one, as the grain and fodder had to be sent before the troops moved, which was related to the lifeblood of the entire army.

Yang Jian appointed Xin Yongfeng, a southerner, as the grain supervisor, with the intention of paying a huge sum of money for his horse's bones.

Seeing his son absorbed in his thoughts, Lu Yongji couldn't help but speak, "Feixiong, as the vanguard of the central route in this northern expedition, you must be extremely careful. The Turks are skilled warriors and familiar with the grassland terrain. Listen carefully and observe carefully, and don't underestimate the enemy and rush forward rashly."

Lu Shang raised his eyes and smiled, "Don't worry, Father. I'm new to commanding troops, so I'll think twice before I act. I won't act rashly unless I'm absolutely sure. Besides, King Kaoshan is our commander-in-chief this time during the Northern Expedition. With King Kaoshan backing us up, what are you worried about?"

Yang Lin, the Patron King, was the white jade pillar that supported the heavens and the purple gold beam that spanned the seas of the Sui Dynasty. He was the undisputed god of war of the Sui Dynasty. Yang Jian appointed Yang Lin, the Patron King, to lead the northern campaign, demonstrating his determination to wipe out the influence of Daro Khan of the Western Turkic region and further prepare for the southern campaign.

Lu Shang had also heard the reason when he was in the Secretariat.

It is said that in the fourth year of Kaihuang, 'DTZ' Shabolue Khan, who worshipped Yang Jian as his father-in-law and was willing to be his father, became increasingly weak under the constant invasion and provocation of Daro Khan, Apo Khan, and the eight tribes of Khitan. In order to protect himself, he wrote to the emperor to submit.

It was the DTZ's submission that gave the Sui Dynasty the reason and confidence to attack the Western Turks. With the DTZ people leading the way, the Sui army was able to cross the vast Gobi Desert and complex grasslands to reach the Western Turkic headquarters.

These 'DTZ' guides were familiar with every water source and every hidden trail. With these guides, the Sui people were no longer deaf and blind in the grasslands and deserts.

Just as Lu Yongji and his son Lu Shang received the imperial edict, Wei Cheng, Xin Yongfeng, Shang Silang and others also received their appointment edicts.

------

Daanfang,
Inside the residential quarters, Wei Cheng knelt on the ground and carefully accepted the imperial edict from the Imperial Eunuch. The Imperial Eunuch's expression was cold as he said, "Wei Cheng, your position as the vanguard of the Left Route of the Northern Expedition was personally bestowed upon you by His Majesty. I hope you will not let His Majesty down."

Wei Cheng said in a deep voice, "Wei Cheng, I will sacrifice my life to repay Your Majesty's great grace."

After the Imperial Household Supervisor turned and left, Wei Cheng remained kneeling for a long time before slowly rising. The imperial edict in his hand seemed to carry a thousand-pound weight.

Wei Cheng gently stroked the hunched Gu Yue elephant trunk sword beside him and muttered to himself, "I never thought, I never thought, a beggar like me, Wei Cheng, would have a day to rise to prominence and bring honor to my family!"

Unlike Xin Yongfeng, who came from a prominent family, and Shang Silang, who was wealthy, Wei Cheng had a rough life. His real name was Liu Cheng, not Wei Cheng. Perhaps because of his Pojun fate, he was born with bad luck among his relatives and both his parents died.

When he was young, he was separated from his uncle while begging and was adopted by an elder in Weijia Village, Huayin. He changed his surname to Wei. According to the elders in the village, their branch of the Wei family is a descendant of Wei Yan from the Three Kingdoms period. They have inherited Wei Yan's sword manual and a rickety ancient moon elephant trunk sword.

It was with this sword manual, combined with his own talent and hard work, that Wei Cheng developed a unique set of flower sword techniques, earning him a reputation among the Huayin Green Forest. It was also due to his difficult childhood experiences that Wei Cheng, compared to Xin Yongfeng and Shang Silang, cared more about fame and fortune.

Xin Yongfeng, who lived only a wall away from Wei Cheng's residence, was naturally unaware of Wei Cheng's sigh. He held the imperial edict in his hand, his gaze lingering on the three words "Grain Supervisor" for a long time, and finally smiled and said, "This is like building a nest to attract the phoenix!"

"A thousand pounds of horse bones. The Northern Dynasty Emperor is truly courageous. He lets a southerner like me take charge of the army. How dare Yongfeng not risk his life?"

Datongfang, adjacent to Daanfang, is the residence of Shang Silang.
Shang Silang was the last to receive the imperial edict of appointment. He was originally a retainer of the Duke of Qi's mansion, but left after ranking among the top three. When Shang Silang left the mansion, Lv Yongji generously gifted him a mansion, which was considered to be a complete and lasting gift.

After watching the Imperial Eunuch who had come to announce the imperial decree leave, he turned to look at the Horse Roaring Helmet, Seven-Feather Armor, and Eight-Treasure Camel Dragon Spear displayed in the room, and muttered to himself, "As a fifth-rank official, serving as the right vanguard of the Northern Expedition, it's time to bring Su Ping and Master and Disciple to Daxing."

Shang Silang already had a wife and a son. His first wife, Zhang Suping, was his childhood friend. They had a son named Shang Shitu, the same Shang Shitu who fought tooth and nail to protect the Sui Dynasty, remaining loyal even after the death of his wife and mother.

Master Shang and his disciple were loyal to the Sui Dynasty all their lives, and had no second thoughts. Even their mentor Qiu Rui, a founding father of the Sui Dynasty, tried to persuade them to rebel against the Sui Dynasty and surrender to Wagang, but he failed. The dilemma between loyalty and filial piety made Qiu Rui so angry that he died.

It can be said that Master Shang and his apprentice were the most loyal and righteous men in the Tang Dynasty, and their loyalty and integrity were unmatched.

At the same time that Lü Shang and the others were being appointed and receiving the imperial edict, the constellations of the three stars of Sha Po Lang in the upper realm also began to shift. After receiving the Northern Sui Emperor's aura, the previously steady glow of the three stars of Sha Po Lang suddenly began to flicker violently, giving off a subtle sense of movement.

The constellations of Zuofu, Youbi, Wenchang, and Wenqu brightened in succession, echoing the unusual movements of the three stars of Sha Po Lang. The star Tianma in the celestial constellation gradually shifted its palace, drawing the star power of the three stars of Sha Po Lang and pouring it into the human world.

This sudden change attracted the attention of thousands of saints in the upper realm. The celestial phenomena changed, and the stars shifted. This corresponded to the human world, and naturally, changes would also occur in the human world.

　There will be more later. I wanted to post them together, but I see that some brothers have been urging me to post them, so I will post them first.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)